Google Cast: More Than Just Screen Mirroring

Google Cast is a casting service available on Android mobile devices and the Chrome browser. While many assume it is solely for screen mirroring, its functionality extends beyond that. Instead of simply sharing your screen, Google Cast interacts with apps on compatible TVs.

For example, if you have YouTube installed on your smart TV, you can use Google Cast from your PC or mobile device to directly open and play a video on the TV, rather than just mirroring your screen. However, this major advantage primarily works on Android TV and Google TV devices.

The good news is that Google Cast is a built-in feature on Android devices and the Chrome browser on PC/Mac, making it widely accessible. However, if you need true screen mirroring—where your entire screen is replicated in real-time—you may want to consider alternative solutions such as:

• Miracast/WiDi – A wireless display standard that allows direct screen mirroring without requiring an internet connection.
• Apple AirPlay – A seamless mirroring solution for Apple devices, offering high-quality streaming and screen sharing.

VIZIO SmartCast support Google Cast

Understanding how Google Cast works can be confusing. It is primarily available on Android TV and Google TV devices. Some newer VIZIO TVs also support SmartCast, which integrates with Google Cast, even though it is not fully developed by Google.